Overheated - what now?

[Joelbtdavies]

Hi, 

Yesterday, the van overheated at 7am in January in Cornwall - slightly strange. Up until this point not had any cooling issue apart from rising temp on big hills in the summer when it just needs a break every now and then. Apart from the fact that fan is fitted on a chicken switch, though the temp gauge hasn't got high enough in the last few months to use this.

My wife had only made it about 20 minutes from home with about 2 minutes of dual carriageway when she noticed the warning light flashing and pulled into a layby about 1 minute later. Here she found smoke pouring out the engine bay and coolant and steam bubbling out the top up tank. She'd forgotten to put the cold start lever back in, so it was out for this whole drive until she put it back in when the warning light came on. 

When I arrived 20 minutes later both coolant tanks were empty and van still very hot. I refilled the tanks and eventually bled the radiator, but temp was still rising when I tried to drive the van. So I rang AA and waited for a tow home.

By the time AA arrived, the expansion tank had almost emptied again. He filled up again and the van took a more normal time to heat up and then didnt over heat whilst idling or with some heavy revving. However, he was testing pressure up to 10psi and worried about an internal leak, so towed me home (I couldn't find any garage nearby that wanted to take me for the next few weeks).



What are my options from here? 
Can I make sure coolant is full and bleed and see how it goes again? 
Should I consider K-seal? 
What should I be looking for? 
Should I give up and wait for a mechanic to have a proper look?

Thanks for any help that can be offered. I'm new to mechanics and t25 ownership, beginning this journey in the last couple years, but trying to learn along the way.  
 

[multisi]

Sounds like the head gasket has blown, when its cold or just warming up its not so bad but then when hot you get the over flowing.

[Joelbtdavies]

Ok, how would I know this for sure?

How much of a job is replacing head gasket?

[cobblers]

Head will need to come off and be skimmed (or replaced as these JX heads are almost a service item)
While it's off you should fit a new cambelt etc.
It's a straightforward job for a mechanic but no fun at all DIY

[Joelbtdavies]

After a bit more exploration this morning, I've found various other things going on. Fan isn't working as it should, cam belt has some serious rubbing on one side, there's been a slow electrical leak for weeks.

Just been quoted ~£800 for a new head all sorted. Is this reasonable?

It seems a sensible solution to get this done by a good mechanic and get them to chase all the other problems at the same time for more cash on top. Then at least I'll have a van come back put together and running as it should, rather than my continued bodging. 

[Cecil]

Cambelt wear might be caused by misalignment of injection pump pulley due to worn injector pump bearings.

Your signature shows jx engine. If so , has your ‘82 van had an engine upgrade as I think it would originally have been cs engine! (Jx is turbo diesel )

[Joelbtdavies]

This is what i was told by a mechanic back in July, So I had the injection pump rebuilt and a new cam belt only then. Seems something else is wrong too causing that issue. 

Yep it has had an engine change already at some point, not sure when or by who.

[mioba]

OP - any T25 owner needs mechanic skills. Otherwise these beasts will cost you. They are simple machines. Ideal for any home mechanic.

The forum will have everything you need including BY forum.

Assuming you have space to work like a driveway.

Once all cooled give the engine bay a good clean and refill bleed the system. Let the bus idle (not a few mins) and look for leaks. its not uncommon that the tank can split as can the sender on the tank. old plastic gets brittle - hot and cold cycling.

In all honesty you never need the cold start in this country.

It could well be the head has cracked. JX is notorious and a service item every 100k as mentioned. Done mine years ago (AMC head).

Getting a good mechanic who knows these engines is essential as pump timing is critical.

I was not aware the fuel pump can be rebuilt.

Lots of info on BY re cooling system.

As a side sort out the bodge jobs. The cooling systems on these buses are more than adequate if maintained and you dont drive like a F1 driver.

As mentioned you will save a-lot of money by reading the forums and these buses don't require specialist tools for many things.